At Sinclair Winery and Vineyard Estate
"It’s still early. You two should go as planned," Rock grumbled, waving a hand dismissively at William and Sanya, who hovered anxiously in his room. "Leave now. It’s not like I’m dying already. Didn’t Dr. Black assure you all that it’s normal for to pass out like that once in a while? Stop overreacting and go... make babies or sothing."
William frowned, but Rock wasn’t done. "Seriously, you’re newlyweds! Enjoy your honeymoon while you can. How are you supposed to give grandkids if you keep lingering around like this? Goodness, between the dical team hovering over and your Aunt Ava refusing to leave alone, I’m practically suffocating here." He crumpled his face in exaggerated irritation.
Ava, standing nearby, chuckled and chid in, "Oh, please. You two are stressing your father out by staying here. Go on, shoo!"
Rock watched with amusent as Ava practically herded the newlyweds out of the room. It reminded him of how she’d done the sa with Alexander and Rain, not to ntion Ben and lanie. Once the door clicked shut, he shook his head fondly.
"Oh, my dear sister. What would I do without you?" he said, his voice light with teasing.
Ava turned back to him, her expression softening into sothing more serious. "You do know that acting like this is just a facade, right? It’s not easy, big brother, pretending everything is fine. But I’m doing my best because I know it’s what you want."
Her face soured slightly as she busied herself grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl. She peeled it and handed it to him with a stern look. "Here, eat this. All the fruits I brought are good for fighting cancer, so make sure to eat as much as you can. And don’t worry, I’ll blend you more broccoli and tomato smoothies later-"
"Co here," Rock interrupted, his voice softer now as he pulled her into a hug. He knew her too well she wouldn’t stop talking unless he stopped her like this.
"I’m feeling fine, Ava. Stop worrying about so much," he murmured into her hair. "You’ve been through a lot, especially last night. I’m sorry you had to see unconscious like that."
Ava gently pushed him away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Just eat that banana," she muttered, her voice shaking slightly.
Rock nodded, taking a bite of the fruit, though his teasing nature couldn’t resist. "You still look so ugly when you cry. How is it that you’re the only woman I know who doesn’t look adorable when she cries?"
Ava’s eyes widened before she lightly smacked him on the shoulder. "Stop spurting nonsense!" she scolded, though a small smile broke through her tears.
Rock leaned back against his pillows, a warm yet teasing grin on his face as he watched his sister fuss over him. "You’re amazing, you know that? Bossing everyone around, chasing out newlyweds, and managing to make eat bananas like a toddler."
Ava shot him a pointed glare, but her red, teary eyes betrayed her exhaustion. "Soone has to. If I left it to you, you’d be running around stressing yourself to death. You’re impossible," She sniffled, quickly wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
Rock chuckled and grabbed her wrist gently, pulling her closer again. "No matter how annoying you get, I wouldn’t trade you for anyone."
Ava’s lips trembled, but she pressed them into a firm line. "Enough with the emotional speeches. Just... get better, okay? That’s how you repay ." She shoved a bowl of sliced fruit closer to him, clearly trying to keep busy.
Rock chuckled and picked up another slice of fruit. "Now, if you’ll excuse , I’m going to enjoy this healthy torture you prepare."
Ava shot him a mock stern look, her hands on her hips for added effect. "Good. You’d better eat every bite," she said, her tone half-scolding, half-playful.
Leaning in, she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, her expression softening. "Fruits and veggies are exactly what you need right now. Enough with those sweets!"
Rock chuckled weakly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "What’s life without a little sugar? It’s the spice of existence, don’t you think?"
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Sugar’s not a spice, genius. And don’t think I’ll let you charm your way out of this one," she retorted, nudging the fruit bowl closer to him.
Rock sighed dramatically, picking up a piece of apple. "Fine, fine. You win, as always." He popped it into his mouth with exaggerated reluctance, earning a satisfied smile from his sister.
Their lighthearted banter was interrupted when a servant entered the room, bowing slightly before speaking. "Sir, Miss Carla has arrived with her parents. They’re waiting outside."
Rock’s expression darkened slightly. "They’re probably here to apologize," he muttered, glancing toward the window. "But Alexander and Rain have already left for work, and honestly, I don’t want them to see like this. Not now."
Ava placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Don’t worry. I’ll go down and handle it," she said with a deep sigh, already moving toward the door.
Rock gave her a faint nod, his gaze softening as he watched her leave. Ti had flown by so quickly. The once shy and reserved little sister he had protected had grown into a strong, confident woman. He couldn’t help but smile, pride swelling in his chest despite the ache of his condition.
He leaned back against the pillows, his mind wandering. He was confident that Ava and Greg would keep everyone together, ensuring the family remained intact even after he was gone.
That thought brought him a strange kind of peace, though he couldn’t help but wish for more ti. Just a little longer.
The sudden ringing of his phone on the bedside table startled Rock. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the na on the screen: Vernice. Without hesitation, he grabbed the phone and answered.
"Vernice?" he said, his voice tinged with surprise.
"I found him!" Vernice’s voice ca through, trembling with excitent and relief. "The Miracle Doctor... his identity. The one who can remove the tumour in your head completely, without any of those damn risks! Rock... I finally found that man!"
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